‘Romantasy,’ a favorite Internet escape

‘Romantasy,’ a favorite Internet escape | Daily Tribune

Somewhere between a Jane Austen ballroom and the bloodied battlefields of Middle-earth lies the genre du jour of the internet generation: romantasy.

A portmanteau of “romance” and “fantasy,” romantasy isn’t new — but its viral resurgence feels like a spell cast over bored readers and BookTok influencers alike. With AI-generated fan art, algorithm-curated recommendations, and a content-hungry ecosystem craving both swords and slow-burns, romantasy has become more than a publishing trend. It’s a cultural moment — and perhaps a digital comfort blanket.

Romantasy surged to popularity with titles like Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses and Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing, both of which now occupy entire shelves — and hearts — on TikTok, Goodreads, and YouTube. Romantasy is now one of the most consumed genres on social media, especially among millennials and Gen Z, who turn to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube not just for entertainment but for emotional escape and community. These books aren’t just selling well; they’re becoming lifestyle brands. And this is where the tech twist comes in.

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have made it almost impossible to avoid romantasy content. Hashtags like #romantasy and #BookTok have racked up billions of views. AI has supercharged this movement. Tools like Midjourney and DALL·E are being used by fans to generate high-definition fan art of brooding fae princes and fire-breathing dragons locked in steamy eye contact.

Social media algorithms, sensing our emotional fatigue, are pushing romantasy as a balm — a genre that allows readers to escape to enchanted realms and vicariously fall in love. In a world where reality feels increasingly algorithmic and cold, romantasy delivers exactly what readers are craving: emotion, imagination, and just enough danger to make your pulse quicken.

Behind the scenes, AI recommendation engines are driving this genre’s explosion. On Amazon, readers who liked Fourth Wing are instantly recommended half a dozen similarly styled titles. Platforms like Wattpad and Radish are using AI to predict story arcs and engagement patterns, encouraging aspiring writers to weave similar tales.

Even the book covers themselves, increasingly created with AI support, are designed to hook a very specific emotional demographic: yearning Gen Zs, burnt-out millennials, and anyone who needs an escape from the doomscroll.

It’s worth asking why this genre resonates so much now. One theory? Romantasy is therapeutic. It delivers predictability in the form of happily-ever-afters, and excitement via magical conflict and political intrigue. It gives readers agency in a world that often feels like it’s run by unseen algorithms and indifferent machines.

In a way, romantasy is resisting tech even as it’s shaped by it. The genre is about personal agency, epic quests, and love that conquers curses — emotional anchors in an age where feelings are increasingly quantified by clicks.

Some authors and publishers are already experimenting with large language models to draft plot outlines or even entire chapters of romantasy novels. Will the next romantasy hit be co-written by AI? Possibly. But readers, especially romantasy readers, are discerning. They crave voice, nuance, and chemistry — the kind that may still elude machines.

Still, as long as tech continues to serve readers rather than replace authors, this enchanted forest of a genre will keep expanding.

Romantasy isn’t just a genre — it’s a safe haven. It’s what happens when tech, emotion, and imagination collide. And as long as dragons, destiny, and forbidden kisses remain compelling, romantasy will continue to rule the hearts — and search histories — of millions.

So if you see someone in a café lost in a book with a sword-wielding heroine and a morally gray lover, don’t interrupt. They’re not just reading — they’re coping, dreaming, and digitally time-traveling.

Now that’s a magic worth believing in.